Anders Breivik enrols for university courses

Norwegian right-wing extremist Anders Breivik, who killed 77 people in a
rampage in 2011, has been allowed to study certain political science
subjects in his cell.

Mass murderer Anders Breivik has been allowed to study certain political science subjects in his cellPhoto: HEIKO JUNGE/AP

By Our Foreign Staff

5:45PM BST 12 Sep 2013

Last month, the University of Oslo rejected an application by Breivik to enroll in a political science course, arguing that he was not academically equipped to pursue a degree.

The extremist subsequently applied for permission to take individual subjects within the course, and this has now been granted by the university.

"Norwegian law recognises that all detainees have the right to work and study," said Karl Gustav Knutsen, warden of Skien Prison in southeast Norway, where Breivik is being held under high-security conditions.

Breivik, who describes himself as a "militant nationalist" combating a multicultural society and a "Muslim takeover" of Europe, set off a bomb in Oslo's government district on July 22, 2011, before opening fire on participants at a Labour Youth camp on the island of Utoeya.

"Breivik does not deserve to be able to study anything," Ingrid Nymoen, a survivor of the Utoeya shooting, remarked on Twitter.

The extremist will only be allowed to study in his cell, without access to the Internet.

"He won't be able to leave jail and go to campus to study," said Ole Petter Ottersen, the university's rector.

According to his lawyer Vibeke Hein Baera, Breivik hoped to study political theory, international politics and public administration, but he has decided to focus on just two of these subjects, which will give him academic credits if he passes the exams.

Breivik has said repeatedly that he hopes to continue his ideological struggle from behind bars.